Shelbyville, Ky. (May 20, 2019) — UofL Health - Jewish Hospital Shelbyville (JHS), part of UofL Health, is joining forces with hospitals across the state to end opioid abuse in Kentucky.

The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) is partnering with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services as part of the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE) to launch the Kentucky Statewide Opioid Stewardship (KY SOS) program. This initiative will provide a mechanism for hospitals to demonstrate their actions and commitments to their patients and communities to combat the state’s opioid epidemic.

KY SOS will focus on reducing opioid overprescribing and improving safe opioid use throughout the commonwealth. Additionally, this project will provide a voluntary certification opportunity for Kentucky hospitals that demonstrates their progress.

Over the past decade, the number of Kentuckians who die from drug overdoses has steadily climbed to more than 1,500 each year, according to the 2017 Overdose Fatality Report – Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. Like other communities across the Commonwealth, Shelby County has been impacted by this epidemic, and JHS is committed to helping bring hope and solutions to the area.

Joined by UofL Health - Jewish Hospital and Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital (SMEH) in Louisville, JHS is one of 61 other facilities across the state that have made a commitment to the program, and more continue to join their ranks.

As a member of KY SOS, JHS will receive:· Resources and education on opioid stewardship· Access to clinical advisors and subject matter experts who can assist with improvement questions and provide recommendations· Access to the Kentucky Quality Counts data system to track progress on applicable measures· Support and coordination from KHA

All of the Kentucky hospitals that are joining this partnership will:· Work to improve patient safety in the area of opioid stewardship· Increase community outreach and education regarding pain management and safe opioid use· Commit to collaboration, alignment, and coordination· Participate in site visits with the KY SOS Advisory Team

“The National Institute on Drug Abuse ranks Kentucky among the top 10 states with the highest opioid-related overdose deaths, and Kentucky’s hospitals are on the front line in the fight to help the state recover,” said Annessa Baker, JHS Site Executive and Chief Nursing Officer. “We look forward to working with KHA, our UofL Health colleagues, and other facilities throughout the commonwealth on this new initiative, which will bring outstanding resources to Shelbyville.”

About UofL Health - Jewish Hospital ShelbyvilleUofL Health - Jewish Hospital Shelbyville, part of UofL Health, is located on the Colonel Harland D. Sanders Medical Campus. For more than 110 years, the community hospital has served as a vital resource to residents of Shelby, Henry and Spencer counties. The hospital offers a full range of comprehensive services, including 24/7 emergency care, transitional care, diagnostic and medical imaging, cardiac rehabilitation, general surgery, endoscopy, gastroenterology, orthopedic care, pain management, occupational medicine, sleep medicine, clinical laboratory and pharmacy, and more.

About the Kentucky Hospital Association: KHA was established in 1929. The Association represents hospitals, related health care organizations and integrated health care systems dedicated to sustaining and improving the health status of the citizens of Kentucky. The Association is headquartered in Louisville.